Institutional review boards - a strongmixedstrong blessing..pdfVIP

eCommons@AKU Medical College Documents Medical College, Pakistan J une 2011 Institutional review boards - a mixed blessing. Taimur Saleem Ag a Khan University Umair Khalid Ag a Khan University Follow this and additional works at : /pakistan_fhs_mc_mc Part of the Medical Education Commons Recommended Citation Saleem, T., Khalid, U. (2011). Institutional review boards - a mixed blessing.. International Archives of Medicine, 4, 19. Available at : /pakistan_fhs_mc_mc/9 Saleem and Khalid International Archives of Medicine 2011, 4:19 /content/4/1/19 DEBATE ARTICLE Open Access Institutional review boards - a mixed blessing * Taimur Saleem and Umair Khalid Abstract Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) are an important checkpoint for all types of research in medicine. Although these bodies originated primarily in the developed world, they have special contemporary consideration in the context of developing countries due to the large number of clinical trials being conducted in these regions with the financial support of large pharmaceutical companies. IRBs are vital to ensure that all scientific investigation is conducted in a manner that is transparent, scientifically feasible and ethically sound. However, they have also been variably criticized for introducing unnecessary and often protracted bureaucracy and red tape into the system. There is a need to reorganize and better delineate the exact functions of the IRBs in view of the dynamic changes in the realm of research so that they can function in a more efficient, judicious and effective fashion. Background not given effective treatment for